Tank.



No. 7|I,465. Patented Oct. 2|, I902. H. BRADSHAW.

TANK.

(Applicatiqn filed, June 18, 1902.)

(No Model.)

teries.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGI-IBRADSHAW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TANK. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,465, dated October 21, 1902. 7'

Application filed June 13,1902. Serial No. 111,465. 7 (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHUGH'BRADSHAW citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tanks,

of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to a form of tank adapted to be sunk into the ground for the purpose of inclosing and protecting various devices from freezing- For example, in railway-signaling systems it is the practice to employ batteries for operating the various devices of the system, and it is highly desirable that these batteries be protected against weather attacks, and particularly against freezing.

To such end, therefore, my invention contemplates an improved form of tank particularly adapted for inclosing a number of bat- The top or cover portion of the tank, although constructed so as to be practically frost-proof, is nevertheless so arranged as to afford ready and convenient access to the batteries. The nature and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a tank embodying the principles of my invention, the same being shown sunk in the ground and the arrangement being particularly applicable to the inclosing of the batteries employed in railway or other electrical signaling system 3. Fig. 2

is a section through the upper portion of the tank and also through the top or cover portion on line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

As thusillustrated, my invention may com prise a tank-body A, constructedof staves a and held togetherby hoops or connectingbands to. Thesaid tank-body is preferably constructed to flare at its bottom, and is provided with a floor or bottom wall B. Upon this floor or bottom wall a number of shelves or racks O are mounted, so as to provide'suitable means for supporting the batteries;

These shelves are preferably circular in form their ends separated atone side, so as to pro-Y vide suitable space for the ladder Du Each joint or juncture 0 between the sections of each shelf is preferably located above one of the cross-pieces c and c, as shown in Fig.

3. The shelves thus made'circular to fit the curved'inner surface of the upright walls of the tank, provides a maximum of shelf-surface, and at the same time alarge and ample amount of 'floor-s'pace isleft at the center:

As shown in Fig. 1', the tank is preferably sunk to a depth to have its top or upper surface practically flush with the surface of the ground. The top or cover portion of the tank is preferably composed of upper and lowersections E and F. With respect to the said lower section the upper portion of the tank-. body is preferably formed with a supportingshoulder a preferably secured around the inner surface of the upper portion of the tank and extends upwardly between the edges of the cover-secbeing preferably such as to, in effect, provide an air-space e between the flat upper and lower cover-sections. A sheet of galvanized iron or other suitable metal'e can be applied to the outer surface ofthe cover-section E and also to the outer surface of the upper portion of the tank-body. The built-up cover thus provided is provided at one side with an opening G, whereby an attendant may enterv the tank and descend by the ladder to the floor upon which the battery-shelves are supported. A ridge or flange g is preferably provided aroundthe edge of this opening or A layer of tarred paper a is manhole G. A cap H can be arranged to over this flange or ridge, as shown in Figs. 1

Preferably this cap is provided onv and 2.

its under side with a layer oftarred paper h or other like material, and its'outer surface can be protected by a sheet of galvanized iron' h or other like metallic covering. A metal bar h preferably extends across the top of the cap, one end of said bar being hinged by a staple 7L3 to the cover of the tank and the other end of said bar being provided with an opening adapted to receive a similar staple h. This staple 7L is adapted to receive the shackle of a padlock, by which arrangement the cap can be securely locked in place. As a further precaution against freezing the under side of the cover can be provided with a sliding doorI, adapted to slide back and forth in the ways i. \Vith this sliding door adjusted into position to close the opening G an airspace is provided similar to the airspace 6, it being observed, however, that this space 9 can be a permanently-sealed or deadair space-that is to say, it can be a deadair space when the cover is constructed as shown and described and when the manhole is walled up from top to bottom, as shown in the drawings. Thus constructed the cap and cover of the tank are adapted to effectually protect the batteries against freezing and is practically dust and water proof. In case the earth falls away from the upper portion of the tank the band or sheet of tarred paper a prevents the entrance of frost or cold air. Tin caps 05* or other suitable means may be employed for securing the paper in place. The batteries can be arranged upon the shelves 0, it being understood that the electrical connections can be made in any suitable or desired manner.

I claim as my invention- 1. A tank provided at its top with a cover composed of upper and lower sections having an intervening dead-airspace and having also a manhole provided with upper and lower doors with an intervening air-space between them.

2. A tank provided at its top with a fixed cover composed of upper and lower sections with an intervening dead-air space, and of suitable layers of sheet material applied to the upper surface of said sections.

3. A tank provided at its top with a shoulder, a lower cover-section resting on said shoulder, a layer of sheet material upon said cover-section, an upper cover-section, an airspace between the two cover-sections, suitable sheet material applied to the outer surface of said upper cover-section, a manhole extending through the two cover-sections, a cap arranged to cover the said manhole, and a sliding door mounted upon the under side of thelowercover-section and adapted to close the said manhole.

4. A tank provided with a cover composed of upper and lower sections with an intervening air-space, a manhole extending through the said cover, a sliding door for closing the under side of said manhole, a cap for covering the said manhole, there being an air-space between the said cap and sliding door, and sheets of tarred paper applied to said cover and tank.

5. A tank provided with a floor, circular shelves mounted at the bottom of said tank upon said floor, a ladder leading from the top to the bottom of said tank, said shelves being cut away at one side to alford space for said ladder, a cover for said tank provided with a manhole arranged adjacent to the top of said ladder, a sliding door for closing the under side of said manhole, and a swinging cap for covering said manhole.

6. A tank provided with a floor, a plurality of shelves mounted upon said floor, each shelf being composed of a plurality of curved or semicircular sections,a cover composed of superi mposed layers of sheet material and coversections, an intervening air-space between the cover-sections, a manhole in the cover, a door for closing the under side of said manhole, and a cap for covering said manhole, there being also an air-space between the said cap and door.

7. A tank-body constructed to inclose the batteries of electrical signaling systems and adapted to be sunk in the ground, a cover constructed with upper and lower walls having an intervening air-space, a manhole leading through said cover, a door for closing the under side of said manhole, and a cap for covering said manhole.

8. A tank constructed to inclose the batteries of electrical signaling systems and adapted to be sunk in the ground, said tank being provided with internally-arranged shelves adapted to support the said batteries, and the top of the tank being constructed with a thickened cover having a manhole, a door for closing the under side of said manhole, and a cap for covering the said manhole.

9. A hollow structure adapted to inclose batteries or the like, comprising a body portion, a floor and shelving for supporting batteries or the like,and a cover constructed with air-spaces and having a manhole closed by a plurality of adjustable closing members.

10. A tank having a cover composed of upper and lower sections with an intervening air-space, a manhole extending through said cover, a sliding door closing the under side of said manhole, and a cap for covering said manhole, there being also an air-space between said door and cap.

11. A tank havinga cover composed of upper and lowersections,a manhole in the cover, a cap covering the manhole, a sliding door closing the under side of the manhole, a sheet of tarred paper on the upper surface of the lower cover-section, and a band of tarred pa per extending around between the edges of the lower cover-section and the inner surface of the tank.

12. A tank provided at its top with a fixed cover composed of upper and lower sections.

having an intervening dead-air space and having also a sheet of galvanized iron applied to the upper surface of the upper section and a sheet of tarred paper applied to the upper surface of the lower section.

13. A tank constructed with a cover composed of upper and lower sections having an IIG intervening dead-air space, and having also Signed by me at 1460 Monadnock Block, a sheet of galvanized iron applied to the outer Chicago, Illinois, this 9th day ofJune, 1902; surface of the upper section and a sheet of A q tarred paper applied to the upper surface of G BRADbHAW' the lower section together with a band of Witnesses:

v tarred paper interposed between the lower ARTHUR F. DURAND,

section and the inner surface of the tank. W'M. A. HARDERS. 

